Chino Hills State Park: Bane Ridge/Bane Canyon Loop (Blog Hike #997)

Trails: Bane Ridge and Bane Canyon Trails
Hike Location: Chino Hills State Park
Geographic Location: south side of Chino Hills, CA (33.94416, -117.70330)
Length: 4.8 miles
Difficulty: 7/10 (Moderate/Difficult)
Date Hiked: February 2024
Overview: A loop hike featuring views and wildlife around Bane Canyon.
Park Information: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=648
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=956303
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming December 27)

Directions to the trailhead: Southeast of Los Angeles, take SR 71 to Soquel Canyon Parkway (exit 7).  Exit and go west on Soquel Canyon Pkwy.  Drive Soquel Canyon Pkwy. west 1 mile to Elivanar Drive;  there is a red light at this intersection.  Turn left on Elivanar Dr.  Elivanar Dr. becomes Sapphire Drive when it curves left just before the park entrance on the right.  Turn right to enter the park, pay the entrance fee, and park at the entrance station and restroom building.

The hike: Consisting of a vast 14,173 acres on the southeast side of the vaster Los Angeles metro area, Chino Hills State Park is a critical refuge for both flora and fauna.  The park protects many hills covered with native grasses in addition to some chaparral and oak woodland habitats.  The Pacific flyway bird migration route passes through this area, and the park's land provides an important resting area for birds and other wildlife.

            Chino Hills State Park came to be in 1981 when a local citizen group called Hills for Everyone convinced the state to acquire land formerly used for cattle grazing.  The park today features a cozy 20-site campground and some picnic areas, but most of the park remains in its natural state and is accessible only via an extensive trail system.  Bane Canyon is the park's most popular and easily accessed area, and the hike described here takes you on a scenic loop up and down the west side of the canyon.

            One warning about this hike: this park sits on clay soil that turns into a slippery muddy mess with just a medium amount of rain.  During these times, the park will close all natural-surface trails for public safety and to prevent erosion, so check the park's website and plan your visit accordingly.  I spent several days in the Los Angeles area in mid-February 2024, and I had to wait until my final day in this area before the park's trails finally reopened to allow me to hike here.

Trailhead near entrance station

            From the park entrance station, head southwest to pick up the signed entrance trail.  In only a couple hundred feet, you reach the Bane Canyon Trail.  Turn right to begin heading up canyon and counterclockwise around our loop.

Climbing on the Bane Canyon Trail

            The wide dirt/gravel Bane Canyon Trail heads gradually uphill with the park entrance road you drove in to the right and the grass-covered canyon wall rising to the left.  The scenery is surprisingly barren and natural given this park's location in metro Los Angeles.  At 0.2 miles, you reach the upper end of the Bane Canyon Trail where it intersects the park entrance road.  Angle softly left to continue uphill on the park entrance road.

Starting the Bane Ridge Trail

            At 0.4 miles, you reach the start of the Bane Ridge Trail as you approach the top of the park road's hill.  Turn left and walk around a vehicle gate to begin the Bane Ridge Trail.  The climb on a gradual grade continues, but the Bane Ridge Trail is narrower and more eroded than the Bane Canyon Trail you began on.  Thus, grass and garlic mustard will swipe at your legs in season.

Near the highest point of Bane Ridge

            The trail curves left as it approaches the top of the ridge.  Near 0.8 miles, you reach this hike's highest point, which is about 500 feet above this hike's lowest point.  The next 0.9 miles take you on a ridgetop roller coaster course with 3 short steep descents.  Fantastic views across the grassy Chino Hills unfold all around you, and the taller Santa Ana Mountains can be seen in the distance to the south.

View south down Bane Ridge

            1.6 miles into the hike, you reach a trail intersection just before you pass under some high voltage power lines.  A connector trail exiting left leads to the Pomona Trail and offers you an opportunity to shorten your hike to a 2.5 mile loop, but this hike continues straight to stay on the Bane Ridge Trail and do a longer loop.  After topping one final knob, a gradual to moderate descent ensues, but the fantastic ridgetop views continue.

View west over the Chino Hills

            At 2.8 miles, you reach the south end of the Bane Ridge Trail at the parking lot for the park's picnic area and equestrian trailhead.  A day-use horse corral and restrooms are located here, and the old Rolling M Ranch can be seen to the west; it is now the park's campground.  The sheltered picnic tables here make great places to sit, rest, and rehydrate near the midpoint of this hike.

Picnic area parking lot

            Your next task is to find the south end of the Bane Canyon Trail, which is our return route.  Get there by taking any of the three trails that exit the equestrian trailhead to the east, then turn left on the main park road to begin walking north along the road.  This road is popular for people with dogs because dogs are not allowed on the park's dirt trails, so you likely will not be alone in this area.  The Bane Canyon Trail begins on the left side of the park road near a yellow vehicle gate 3.3 miles into the hike.

South end of Bane Canyon Trail

            The rest of the hike is a gradual climb on the Bane Canyon Trail, which is a wide dirt/gravel trail that stays near the bottom of Bane Canyon with the park road to the right.  The creekside setting makes for good wildlife viewing, and I saw some mourning doves, roadrunners, and deer on my hike.  Just past 4.7 miles, you close the loop.  Angle right to walk back up the entrance trail, return to the entrance station, and complete the hike.